In addition to Singapore, which I wrote about on Friday, Chicago is another great dining destination—I’m not saying that merely because it’s my hometown. You can get not only fantastic casual (pizza, sausages), ethnic (Mexican, Thai), and traditional (steakhouse, diner) meals there, but also some of the best fine-dining in the country, from the legendary Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter’s) to the innovative Grant Achatz (Alinea).

On my recent return visit, there were three new places both friends and strangers consistently mentioned: Xoco, Terzo Piano and Nightwood.

Xoco, 449 N. Clark St. (enter on Illinois), 312-334-3688, www.xocochicago.com

Xoco is the latest establishment from one of Chicago’s most famous chefs, Rick Bayless. It opened on Sept. 8, and the lines have been out the door ever since. Bayless made a name for himself with Mexican cuisine (at restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo) and continues to do so with Xoco. This time around the focus is on Mexican street food.

The Almendrado chocolate and churros at Xoco. (Credit: Donna M. Airoldi)

I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of Frontera—I’ve enjoyed better food (and prices) in other Chicago Mexican restaurants that were more authentic and didn’t come with a room full of North Side and suburban yuppies—so I wasn’t entirely looking forward to the experience. However, I was pleasantly surprise this time. My two dining companions and I were all impressed, especially with the “Bean-to-Cup Chocolate,” quite possible the best hot chocolate outside of Spain or Mexico. Be sure to get the 3-for-$3 churros—crunchy and cinnamon-coated on the outside, soft on the inside—for dipping. I also was quite taken with the homemade tortilla chips.

The tortas (served after 11 a.m.) come on traditional Mexican breads: bolillo, similar to a baguette, for those from the wood-burning oven; telera, slightly rounder and softer, for the pressed sandwiches. My conchinita pibil—wood-roasted suckling pig with achiete, black beans, pickled onion and habanero—was tender, tasty and, when dipped in the fiery accompanying sauce, tingly. The caldos (soups) sounded divine—shortrib red chile soup with braised tallgrass shortribs, red chile broth, roasted vegetables, epazote, wild arugula and lime, anyone?—but are served after 3 p.m., so we were too early to taste those. The breakfast menu, served until 10:30 a.m., tempted as well.

Xoco is the smallest and most casual of Bayless’ restaurants: no reservations accepted, and you stand in line (plan on at least an hour or longer), then place your order at the register—but not before you’re handed a card, indicating that there is a seat available for you. It’s daunting/annoying at first, but works surprisingly well, provided you don’t mind the long wait.

Average prices: Breakfast, $2 to $7.50; Tortas, $8 to $12; Caldos, $10.50 to $12.50; Salads and Sides, $3 to $8.50; Hot Chocolate, $2.50 to $3.25. Hours: Tue. to Thu., 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Sun. and Mon.

Terzo Piano, 150 E. Monroe St. (third floor of the Modern Wing, Art Institute of Chicago), 312-443-8650, www.terzopianochicago.com

The new Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago was tops on my list for new attractions to see during this visit. Lunch at its new restaurant was an added bonus.

We called for a Monday reservation, but the restaurant was booked full. No surprise since the place is overseen by chef Tony Mantuano, of Spiaggia fame, and open for dinner just one night per week (Thursdays). We tried our luck with a cancellation, showed up at noon, and were seated in the slick, modern (natch), all-white-décor dining room within 15 minutes. Not bad.

Dietzler Farm stead salad; interior at Terzo Piano. (Credit: Donna M. Airoldi)

The food wasn’t bad either. My friend and I were each in the mood for healthy greens. She tried the Mizuna salad with Miller’s organic chicken breast, avocado, cilantro, lime and ginger cashew dressing. My Dietzler Farm steak salad with arugula, orange, kalamata olives and almonds with a caper-mustard dressing was quite good—and I was thrilled with the hefty amount of meat included, which was cooked perfectly rare. I preferred the steak over the chicken (which was a tad bland), and while chock full of fresh ingredients, we both agreed that each salad suffered from a heavy-handed pour of dressing, and mine was a tad too salty. Lesson learned: ask for the dressing on the side.

The dessert selections were spot on, however—light, with just enough sugar to satisfy a sweet tooth. It was difficult to decide between the local wildflower honey panna cotta with autumn fruit compote and rosemary, and the almond financier with blueberry thyme compote and crème fraîche sorbet. We chose the latter, which came instead with cranberry compote since the kitchen was out of blueberries.

Lunch prices: Appetizers, $7 to 16; Sandwiches/Salads, $15 to $19; Pasta/Entrees, $18 to $25; Desserts, $9. Hours: Lunch, Mon. to Sun., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Antipasti and Aperitivo, Thu., 3 to 5 p.m.; Dinner (ala carte or $45 3-course prix fixe), Thu. only, 5 to 9 p.m.

Nightwood, 2119 S. Halsted St. (Pilsen neighborhood), 312-526-3385, www.nightwoodrestaurant.com

No fewer than five individuals recommended this place, open since May. And how could they not, when the owners are the husband-and-wife team (Jason Hammel and Amalea Tshilds) behind Lula Café, a fantastic restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. It has been getting raves since it opened 10 years ago (and is where, I’m told, local chefs go to eat when they’re not working in their own kitchens).

Nightwood interior. (Credit: Jason Little Photography)

The menu changes daily as all ingredients are sourced from local farms and markets, for a locavore’s dream meal. One consistency: many dishes are wood-grilled. Those that have impressed local critics in recent months: “anything with chicken liver … potato gnocchi with tomato and corn … spit-roasted pork loin accompanied by roasted apricots and topped with a delicious blend of chopped olives and crème fraîche,” suggested Phil Vettel in the Chicago Tribune. “A brioche bread pudding appetizer was homey and inspired … the woodsy scent of the cheeseburger (worth ordering for the crisp french fries alone) hints at the meat’s earthy flavor,” wrote Time Out Chicago’s Julia Kramer.

Alas, I was unable to make it to this South Side newcomer before my visit ended as I staying on the North Side and was carless. However I have no doubt the trip would have been worth the effort via public transportation, had I had the time, given how much I adore Lula (where I did manage to get in an amazing dinner last week). Readers, next time you’re in Chicago, you’ll just have to try it and let me know how it goes.

Prices: Appetizers, $7 to $10; Entrees, $13 to $26; Desserts, $2.50 to $8; Brunch entrees, $6 to $14. Hours: Dinner, Tue. to Sat., 5:30 to 11 p.m.; Sun. Brunch, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed Mon.

I was shocked and saddened by the news yesterday that film director John Hughes had died. Hughes and Chicago are forever linked, as the city and its suburbs serve as the location for many of his films.

I grew up in Chicagoland, as it’s called locally, and was a teenager still when his early films were released. I particularly identified with his underdog characters and their class issues, having come from a blue-collar community, and his portrayals remained pretty honest. Also, how could you not love a guy who created the best soundtracks of the era, with The Psychedelic Furs, The Thompson Twins, Oingo Boingo, Simple Minds, The Vapors, The Divinyls and Yello? New Wave at its finest.

Cast from The Breakfast Club (© 1985 Universal Pictures); John Hughes, circa 1990 (© Paul Natkin/WireImage).

In 1984 I was working at the top movie theater in the city when Hughes was filming The Breakfast Club. Emilio Estevez came in several Sundays in a row to spend his one-day-a-week off watching movies. He was super sweet and always asked what I was studying, since I inevitably had a textbook perched on my lap when he’d buy his tickets. We’d then talk for a few minutes about how filming went that week before he disappeared into the screening room. Each time I see The Breakfast Club on cable I think about our brief chats and, again, how he was such a nice guy.

After Ferris Bueller’s Day Off came out, Chicago officially became Hughes’ town. In honor of the man and the city, here are a few memorable Chicago attractions wonderfully captured in John Hughes’ films.

10. Art Institute of Chicago — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
9. American Airlines terminal at O’Hare International Airport — Home Alone
8. Chicago’s North Shore “Gold Coast” suburbs, including Evanston, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest and Glencoe, particularly the high schools in the area. Take your pick of just about any of Hughes’ movies, but especially The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
7. Chicago Marina Towers — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The “Corn Husk” towers parking garage attendants took Cameron’s Ferrari on a joy ride.
6. The Braidwood Inn (now the Days Inn Braidwood) — Planes Trains and Automobiles. “They’re not pillows!” scene. (Braidwood is a small town about 50 miles southwest of Chicago.)
5. Field Museum of Natural History — She’s Having a Baby
4. Wrigley Field — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
3. Marshall Field & Company flagship department store (recently renamed Macy’s) in Chicago’s Loop — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
2. Ben Rose Auto Museum, 370 Beech St., Highland Park — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Cameron’s home and Ferrari garage. (The house was recently put on the market for $2.3 million.)
1. Chicago Pulaski Day Parade — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

What are some of your favorite Chicagoland John Hughes movie locations?

If you’re planning a Chicago family vacation this summer, odds are you’ll include a visit to what is arguably the city’s most popular attraction: Navy Pier. If so, don’t miss this deal:

Photos: Navy Pier, Affinia Chicago

Navy Pier and its official hotel Affinia Chicago are offering the A Day of Fun in the Sun package, which includes the following:

• Rates starting at $229 per night

• Four tickets to the IMAX Theater at Navy Pier

• Four tickets to ride the Ferris wheel

• Four tickets to ride the carousel

• Four tickets to ride the Wave Swinger

• Four tickets to the miniature golf course

• Navy Pier coupon book

All told, there’s up to $144 in savings to be had. (If staying at the hotel on a Saturday, guests also get a free trolley ride to the Pier.)

This package is especially appealing if traveling with little ones in tow—though I know plenty of adults who would enjoy these perks too, especially when considering that the hotel’s seafood restaurant, C-House, is under the direction of hot celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, of New York’s Aquavit, and there’s the 29th-floor rooftop C-View lounge, on which to enjoy cool evening breezes off nearby Lake Michigan.

So what are you waiting for? A Day of Fun in the Sun is available for stays now through Aug. 31, 2009 and can be booked online or by calling 866-246-2203 and referencing booking code PIER.

On a trip to Chicago, it is practically a requirement to stop off at the city’s largest and best-known museum: the Field Museum. The Field regularly hosts several exhibits, which in the past have ranged on subject from Pompeii to dinosaurs. While planning my recent trip to Chicago, I made sure to check out the Field Museum’s Web site to see what kind of goodies were in store for me. Imagine my excitement when I saw that the museum’s newest exhibit was all about pirates!

Real Pirates, which opened at the Field Museum on Feb. 28, traces the story of the Whydah, a slave ship that became a pirate ship after being captured by the formidable Captain Sam Bellamy, an 18th century pirate known as “Black Sam.” The exhibit features real pirate treasure along with a host of other pirate artifacts found in the wreckage of the Whydah. After a massive treasure hunt and excavation effort by underwater explorer Barry Clifford, these artifacts offer an interesting view on what pirate life was really like.  

The exhibit begins where the story of the Whydah begins: during the slave trade. The ship was one of the most advanced of its time and made several trips along the Atlantic slave trade route exchanging goods and human cargo. The exhibit goes into more depth than I expected for it to on the slave trade, displaying many artifacts and documents, such as human bills of lading.

After Black Sam captured the Whydah in 1717, the ship turned from slave ship to pirate ship and was said to be the prized boat in the infamous pirate’s extensive fleet. From sailor knot tying techniques to a life-size replica of the stern (that’s the back) of the Whydah, this section is definitely the highlight of the exhibit. Meet Black Sam’s crew, which includes a Native American man named John Julian to a boy no older than 11 named John King.

In this section, artifacts that were painstakingly extracted from the briny sea are on display. Everything from pirate forks, to pirate treasure, to pirate belt buckles, to pirate—well, you catch my drift. The end of the exhibit documents the amazing process of how all of the artifacts, which were thought to be lost to the sea forever, were discovered, recovered and restored.

I would HIGHLY recommend this exhibit for people of all ages. The children at the exhibit seemed to love the interactive parts, where they could touch real pirate treasure, as well as learning cool pirate facts. Even the young-at-heart seemed to love learning about the days of swashbuckling and scallywags.

It’s that magical time again—the dog days of summer.

What’s a family to do when there are no beaches nearby, the big summer trip is over, and all the ice cream in town has been sampled?

Why, the state fair, of course.

The last time I went to the fair was 2001.  We slowed to a crawl as we reached the entrance to the New York State Fairgrounds, but I was salivating at the thought of downing a plateful of deep-fried Twinkies.

Food fried in decades-old grease. The smell of livestock. The pie bake-off.

And, oh, my friends, the butter cow.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois State Fair is pitching itself as a low-cost family-fun alternative this summer, in light of soaring gas prices and an airline industry in disarray.

Located in Springfield, Ill., the fair boasts a $3 daily admission fee (less than your average matinee) and plenty of free events.

Illinois isn’t the only state that plays host to carnival rides and the 4-H Club. Check out the State Fair Directory to find the state fair nearest to you.

And if you can’t get to your state's big shindig, don’t forget about your local county fair—’tis the season for deep-fried Twinkies everywhere.

Mmmm, Twinkies.